SPS SADR/SPAIN/VISIT The President of the Republic in
an official visit to Catalonia
26.01.05
Catalonia (Spain), 26/01/2005
(SPS) The President of the Republic, Mohamed Abdelaziz, was received
Monday at the seat of the Generalitat (official name of the Government
in Catalonia) by the President of the Catalonian Government, Mr.
Pasqual Maragall, with the presence of the latter's assistant, Mr.
Bargallo Valls, and the Counsellor in charge of Foreign Relations.
Accompanied by an important delegation, the President of the Republic
had a meeting, which was qualified as "constructive and sincere", in
which the two parties "reviewed the relations between Catalonia and
SADR, the last developments of the Saharawi question and the
perspectives of cooperation between both sides", declared to SPS Mr.
Mohamed Khaddad, Saharawi Coordinator with the Minurso, member to the
Saharawi delegation.
The President of the Republic thanked the Catalonian authorities for
the "concern they always showed to a just solution to the question of
Western Sahara that is conformed to the international legality, as well
as for the material aid they provide Saharawi people with in all
fields", added the same source.
On his part, the President of the Catalonian Government, Mr. Maragall,
recalled the great concern manifested by the majority of the Catalonian
and Spanish public opinion in favour of Western Sahara and its people.
"Mr. Maragall, added the same source, underlined that the cooperation
between the two parties will considerably develop, especially in the
fields of humanitarian assistance and aid to the Saharawi refugees".
The presidential delegation is composed of the members to the National
Secretariat, M’Hamed Khaddad, Coordinator with the Minurso, Brahim
Ghali, Polisario Front's Representative in Spain and Khalil Sidi
Mohamed, Minister of Occupied Territories and Communities, as well as
Mr. Salek Baba Hacena, Minister for Cooperation, Mr. Haj Ahmed,
Saharawi Ambassador to Venezuela, Mr. M’beirik, Saharawi Representative
to Catalonia and Mrs. Mahfoudha Rahal, Secretary of State for Social
Assistance.
The President of the Republic had before been received at the City hall
of Barcelona by the Mayor of the city, Mr. Joan Clos, with the presence
of many of his assistants, it should be mentioned.
Mr. Clos recalled the permanent solidarity and support of Barcelona to
the Saharawi people, especially at the sanitary level. He reaffirmed
the availability of his municipal council to continue the cooperation
and reiterating his support to a just and definitive solution to the
conflict in Western Sahara.
The Head of the State had finally been the guest of honour to a
dinner-debate organised by the Catalonian businessmen with the presence
of representatives of the regional and Spanish press. (SPS)
SAHARA
PRESS SERVICE